Sydney Taylor Gee

Sydney Taylor Gee, age 84 a longtime resident of Payson, Arizona, passed away Sunday, June 24, 2018 in his home. Syd was born Monday, June 18, 1934 in Portland, Oregon the second of two sons of George Sydney Gee and Beatrice Priscilla (Hart) Gee. He and his brother Darrell were raised on Bainbridge Island, Washington and Syd graduated from Bainbridge Island High School with the class of 1952.

Syd served in the United States Navy and was proudly stationed on the USS Shangri-La and saw many overseas ports. On October 1, 1960, in Hinsdale, Illinois he was united in marriage to Bonnie Lou Laird and to this union two children were born, Laura Lynne and Steven Taylor. They were married just shy of 25 years before Bonnie’s passing due to cancer on September 22, 1984.

Syd held several salesman positions including selling TV and intercom systems to hospitals for Motorola and Sylvania in the 1970’s and he travelled from his home in Houston, Texas and covered Oklahoma and Louisiana as well and the kids remember going with him on these trips during the summer and sitting in hospital waiting rooms while he called on his customers. He and Bonnie enjoyed golf, and when he was not traveling, after dinner the family would hop on their golf cart and play a few holes before it got dark. It was so easy to do as they lived in Inwood Forest Country Club on the dog leg of #9. Golf balls coming through their dining room windows was a regular occurrence! In 1976 Syd moved his family from Houston, Texas to Tucson, Arizona where he and Bonnie opened Kwik-Kopy Printing #173. They lived in 49’er County Club, this time at the #9 tee as to avoid the golf balls coming through the windows. He loved being his own boss, soon a second location #489 was opened and he and Bonnie would compare sales figures over dinner to see which location had performed the best! Shortly after Bonnie’s death, he sold both locations and purchased a 7-11 convenience store.

Syd married Christa Huntley and they made their home for a short while in Mexico, Washington State and finally settling in Payson in the late 1990’s.

Syd was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.

Surviving Syd is his wife Christa; a brother Darrell Gee of Fox Island, WA; daughter & son-in-law Laura L. & Kimberland Ritter of Seymour, MO; son and daughter-in-law Steven T. & Melissa Gee of Tucson, AZ; 5 grandchildren Bonnie Lucille Shikles and husband Jon of Bolivar, MO, Silas Taylor Hoffer and girlfriend Abby Clark of Humansville, MO, Taylor Allison Gee, Ryan Cameron Gee and Owen Carter Gee all of Tucson, AZ and 4 step grandsons, Mason Ritter of Springfield, MO, Brayden Ritter of Diggins, MO, Naithan Ritter and Victoria Wetzel of Ripon, WI and Morgan Ritter of Seymour, MO , 2 great grandchildren Diana Ritter and Liam Ritter; 3 nieces Debbi Hunnicutt & husband Bob of Jacksonville, FL, Traci Gee of Napa, CA, Kelli Hogarty and husband Brendan of Tacoma, WA, a nephew Gary Gee of Gig Harbor, WA as well as Christa’s children John Huntley, Michael Huntley and Jennica Massie and their families.